Sealing device



Oct. 31, 1967 E GREER 'ETAL- 3,349,578

SEALING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTQRS Jfl/ws'sZT KER W144 MM L.140855 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,349,578 SEALING DEVICE James E.Greer and William L. Acree, Greensboro, NC, assiguors to BurlingtonIndustries, Inc., Greensboro, NC, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug.24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,216 7 Claims. (Cl. 68-5) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A sealing device for textile treating apparatus provides formovement of a running length of textile material into and out of a steamor hot water vessel. The sealing device includes a plurality of flexiblediaphragm gates through which the material can move without beingmechanically abraded or disturbed. Pressure control means are providedfor a plurality of chambers associated with the device, and steam isprevented from escaping from the vessel so as to condense on theincoming fabric in a way which would disturb unfixed dye contained inthe material.

Brief description of invention This invention relates to apparatus fortreating moving lengths of material, and in particular, the invention isconcerned with an improved sealing means used with apparatus for dyeingor processing textile materials. The invention contemplates apparatusused in the treatment of strands, tapes, tows, or other forms of textilefabrics.

Apparatus for use in dyeing fabric materials is well known in the art,and usually means are provided for introducing a running length ofmaterial into a vat or chamber where the treatment takes place and thenfor removing the material from the chamber upon completion of thetreatment process. Where continuous length material is being introducedinto a chamber which is operating at high temperatures or pressures, itis necessary to include sealing devices at the points of entry and exitof the material into and out of the chamber. Prior art sealing deviceshave included various types of gate structures such as disclosed in theYoshiike Patent 3,137,- 151, and such devices have included attempts toregulate the pressure of a series of chambers adjoining the highpressure treatment chamber where the dyeing process is taking place.Such prior art devices have a disadvantage in that they disturb unfixeddye which may be on the fabric when it passes through the sealing devicefor subsequent fixation in a steam or hot water chamber. The realdifliculty resides in the fact that condensation forms on the enteringdyed material while it is passing through the series of gates or othersealing devices, and this condensation together with the mechanicalcontact of the sealing gates with the material disturbs the unfixed dyeon the material and affects the uniformity of the dye treatment.

The present invention provides for an improved sealing means to be usedin conjunction with a pressure chamber for introducing or removingcontinuous length dyed fabric into and out of the chamber. The sealingmeans of this invention includes flexible diaphragm means through whichthe fabric passes for introduction or removal from the high pressurechamber. The flexible diaphragm means are positioned in a series ofchambers contained within the sealing device, and which are so regulatedin pressure relative to one another that condensation does not form onmaterial which is being introduced into the steam chamber. The flexiblediaphragm means may be made from synthetic rubbers or suitable plastics,and such sealing means provide for a better pressure seal with lessmechanical damage or disturbance to unfixed dyed textiles which arepassing through the sealing device.

The sealing device of this invention further includes chambers intowhich air may be admitted for the purpose of adjusting the pressureenvironment around the incoming moving material, and one chamber ispositioned immediately adjacent to the entry of the moving material intothe steam chamber or other treating device. By admitting controlledamounts of air into the separate chambers of the sealing device, and inparticular, by admitting air to the chamber which is immediatelyadjacent to the steam vat, it is possible to prevent the condensation ofsteam escaping from the steam vat onto the incoming dyed material. Thiseliminates the problem of condensation on the surface of the unfixed dyematerial, and there is less disturbance to the moving material as itenters the steam vat through the sealing device.

Thus, the sealing device includes a plurality of flexible diaphragmmeans which act to prevent the escape of pressure and contents from thesteam treating vat, and also means are included for controlling theamount of air pressure within the sealing device so as to preventcondensation of steam onto incoming material. In order to furthercontrol the air pressure environment within the sealing device, ventingpassages are provided through a casing of the sealing device and intoits hollow interior so that excess air pressure may escape from thesealing device. The venting passageways are positioned between theplurality of diaphragm means so that a vent is provided out of eachchamber defined by the space between subsequent diaphragm gates.

In fixing the dye on a particular fabric, the dyed textile material ismoved through the sealing device and into the steam vat or chamber whichis under relatively high pressure and temperature. In its movementthrough the sealing device, the dyed textile passes through theplurality of diaphragm sealing means which are positioned throughout thelength of the sealing device to prevent the escape of steam and pressurefrom the treating vat. As the dyed material progresses through thesealing device, it reaches an opening into the treating vat. Steam canescape from the vat opening and would ordinarily rise into the sealingdevice and condense onto the incoming fabric. However, the chamber whichis immediately adjacent to the vat opening is purged of excess moisture,and a stream of air is admitted to chambers above the adjacent chamberso as to maintain a curtain of protective air around the incomingtextile material. As a result, the dyed material enters the treating vatwithout any mechanical or chemical disturbance of the unfixed dye, andthe steam treatment of the material fixes the dye in a more uniformmanner than heretofore possible.

Other advantages of the sealing device will become apparent in the moredetailed discussion which follows. In that discussion, reference will bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the position of thesealing device as related to a treating vessel;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed sectional elevation showing the various chambersand components of the sealing device;

FIGURE 3 is an alternative embodiment of the flexible sealing means ofthis invention as used with a sealing device;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the sealing device of FIG- URES 2 or 3showing side plates which attach to the device for forming the sealingchamber through which textile material passes.

Detailed description of invention With reference to FIGURE 1, a sealingdevice 10 is shown as being mounted on a pressure vessel 12 at a pointWhere continuous length fabric or other textile material is entering thepressure vessel for treatment. A second sealing device 10 is shown atthe exit of the material from the pressure chamber, and the seconddevice may be of a similar construction to that used for the inletsealing device. Continuous length material 14 is moving in the directionindicated by the arrows, and it is contemplated that such material maybe in any form, such as strand, tow, or Woven fabric. The sealingdevices 10 may be made of such dimensions to accommodate any dimensionof textile material which is to be introduced into the treating vessel12. For example, the device may be constructed to receive a normal widthof fabric coming from a loom, and the same device could receive and sealsmaller widths of fabric or even single strands of textile material. Thesealing device 10 is adaptable for use as a sealing means for anytreating chamber 12; however, it will be described with particularreference to protecting dyed fabrics from disturbances while at the sametime effectively sealing the pressure within a steam vessel 12 which isused for fixing dye on such fabrics. The FIGURE 1 view also showsconnections 16 for air hoses which communicate with certain portions ofthe sealing device 10 to regulate the gaseous environment within thesealing device and to prevent the formation of steam condensate n theincoming textile material 14. Also, the FIGURE 1 shows venting passages18 which communicate with the interior of the sealing device to permitthe escape of excess air pressure from within the device.

Referring to the detailed view of FIGURE 2, the various elements whichmake up the sealing device are shown as related to the position of themounted device on the pressure vessel 12. In its basic form, the sealingdevice includes a casing or housing 19 defined by the various componentswhich make up the outside Walls of the device, and a longitudinallyextending central passage is provided through the housing forintroducing moving textile material into the pressure vessel 12. Thepressure vessel 12 includes a slit or opening 20 for receiving theentering material from the sealing device. The split or opening 20 is ofsuch a size to accommodate the particular textile material which is tobe received within the treating vessel, but the opening is restricted soas to prevent an abnormal escape of steam or pressure from within thevessel 12. The sealing device includes a plurality of flexible diaphragmmeans 22 positioned along the length of the device so as to prevent theescape of pressure or steam from the vessel 12. The diaphragm elements22 are preferably made from rubber or any synthetic material whichprovides a degree of flexibility and is resistant to the action of steamor other chemical action which would be encountered in such a unit. Thediaphragm elements 22 may be in the form of sheets of synthetic rubberhaving slots 24 positioned through the central portions of the sheet sothat when the plurality of diaphragm elements are aligned along thesealing device, the running length of textile material may pass throughthe aligned centrally located slots 24. The slots may be simple,straight line cuts through the diaphragm element, or they may bedimensioned to accommodate larger thicknesses of textile material. Ineither case, the slots are of such a size that the moving materialcontacts opposed faces of the diaphragm material on each side of theslot so that an effective seal is attained while permitting the passageof textile material through the diaphragm element with little or nomechanical abrasion of the textile material.

The diaphragm elements 22 are spaced from one another throughout thelength of the sealing device casing so as to define separatecompartments between adjoining diaphragm elements, as shown. In theillustrated form of the invention, three diaphragm elements are arrangedin spaced relationship to one another in an upper portion of the sealingdevice 10, and a second set of three diaphragm elements are spaced fromone another in a lower portion of the sealing device. A relatively largechamber 26 is interposed between the two sets of diaphragm elements atthe upper and lower portions of the sealing devices, and a similarchamber 28 is included at the lowermost portion of the sealing device atits point of attachment to the pressure vessel 12. The two largechambers 26 and 28 are positioned to permit a control of pressure in thesealing device and to provide a curtain of air around the running lengthof material which is passing through the device and into the pressurevessel. The purpose in introducing a curtain of air around the materialis to prevent condensation of steam or other moisture which is rising upfrom the pressure vessel 12, and by preventing such condensation, thereis no mechanical or chemical dis turbance of unfixed dye that may becarried on the entering material. The upper chamber 26 is connected toan air pressure line 16 which leads to a suitable source of air or gasunder pressure and known control devices can be included in the line forcontrolling the rate of admission of air pressure into the upperchamber. The lower chamber 28 is connected to a purge line 32 throughthe port 34, and the purge line 32 may be controlled with valvingdevices to relieve excess pressure or moisture from the lower chamber28. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, air or gas isadmitted to the lower chamber 28, through the line 32, for providing acurtain of condensation-preventing air in that chamber, as is providedin the upper chamber 26. Suitable valving means may be included in theair line 32 to control the admission of air to chamber 28.

In a dye-fixing process, the material 14 which is entering the pressurevessel 12 carries unfixed dye on its surface and the pressure vesselcontains steam for fixing the dye onto the material. The pressure vessel12 may be under a typical pressure of 15 p.s.i.g., and with such apressure there would be a tendency for the pressurized steam to escapefrom the pressure vessel 12 upwardly into the sealing device 10, thusaccounting for the usual condensation which takes place on incomingfabrics which are introduced into such treating vessels. However, theuse of spaced chambers between flexible sealing elements together withthe introduction of air under pressure into the sealing device assistsin balancing the pressure dilferences between the sealing device 10 andthe pressure vessel 12. It has been found that if the pressure in theupper chamber 26 is maintained at approximately 2-3 p.s.i.g., thepressure in the lower chamber 28 will be approximately 7 p.s.i.g., andcondensation will be prevented on incoming fabric material. In additionto the advantage in preventing condensation on the surface of theentering material, the use of flexible sealing elements in the form ofthe flexible diaphragms 22 prevents any mechanical disturbance of theunfixed dye or of the surface of the incoming material 14. Thus, thereis provided an improved sealing device for introducing a continuouslength of material into a treating vessel while at the same timepreventing the escape of pressure from the vessel or any disturbance tothe incoming material which is being treated.

As mentioned above, the individual diaphragm elements 22 are spaced soas to define smaller chambers between adjoining diaphragm elements, andthese chambers are indicated generally at 36. In order to better controlthe curtain of air and the air pressure within the sealing device,venting passages 18 are included through the walls of the casing of thesealing device at spaced intervals corresponding to the locations of thesmaller chambers 36. The venting passageways 18 may be formed by boringsmall holes through the casing Wall 19, as shown, and a sufficientnumber are provided to permit a slow escape of excess air from thechamber at all times. This prevents the build-up of too much pressurewithin the sealing device, and also a continuous flow of air ismaintained through the sealing device so as to carry off moisture and toprevent condensation. Also, it can be seen that a flow of air ismaintained in all parts of the sealing device above the lowermostchamber 28, and thus steam is prevented from rising above the chamber28. Any moisture which does escape past the lowermost diaphragm elementis carried away through the vents 18 by the flow of air in the upperparts of the sealing device 10.

In the preferred'form of the invention, the sealing device may be madeup of a plurality of plate-like elements which define the casing and thelongitudinal opening through the casing for the passage of enteringmaterial. The plate-like elements may be stacked so as to define theupper and lower sections of the sealing device, as shown in FIGURE 2.Separate tubular casing members may be interposed between the stacks ofplate-like members to define the upper and lower chambers 26 and 28respectively, and all of the elements are secured in such a manner as toprovide a seal between adjoining elements. The diaphragm elements 22 maybe of a similar size and shape in their outside configuration to theplatelike elements 28, and preferably the diaphragm elements arestaggered in the stacking arrangement of the platelike elements so as toprovide the spaced arrangement shown.

In an alternative form of the invention, as shown in FIGURE 3, thesealing device -10 may be made up of opposed elongate plates 40 whichmake up walls of a rectangular shaped sealing device. In such aconstruction, the elongate plates are provided with slots for containingseparate opposed portions of diaphragm elements 42. Conceivably theslots can be arranged in direct alignment with one another so that asingle diaphragm element having a slot in its central portion may beused, as in the preferred form of this invention, but the constructionof FIGURE 3 illustrates the use of diaphragm elements 42 which are madeup of separate opposed portions which converge toward one another so asto provide a passage at their point of juncture for the enteringmaterial 14. The opposed portions of the diaphragm elements 42 may beplaced into the slots contained Within the elongate plates in a spacedrelationship so as to define separate chambers between adjoiningdiaphragm elements 42. The separate portions 44 and 46 which make up asingle diaphragm element 42 are held in position by the holding screws48 which are threaded into the elongate plate members 40 so as to beadjustable from the outside of the sealing device 10. Air connections 50are provided through the walls of the elongate plates 40 between theseparate chambers defined by the spaced diaphragms 42, and air isintroduced into these chambers in the same manner as described above forthe purpose of preventing condensation and to equalize pressures betweenthe sealing device 10 and the pressure vessel 12.

The FIGURE 3 embodiment of the sealing device has the advantage ofproviding flexible sealing gates which make a tighter seal in proportionto the amount of pressure building up in the pressure end of the devicewhich is in communication with the pressure vessel 12. As pressureincreases in the vessel 12, there is a greater tendency for the opposedflexible sealing elements 44 and 46 to bow upwardly in a manner whichplaces more of their sealing surfaces in contact with the incomingfabric or material 14. This increase in sealing characteristic of thedevce is accomplished without mechanically abrading or frictionallydisturbing the incoming fabric.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an end view of the device shown in FIGURE 3. It canbe seen that the sealing device is generally rectangular in its crosssectional configuration, and that the elongate plates 40 are held inspaced relationship to one another by the side wall plates 52. Theplates 52 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the walls of theelongate plates 40 so as to form a sealed unit having central passageway54 running through its central longitudinal axis.

Although this invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, variations will become apparent to those skilled in theart, and such variations are' intended to be included within the scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealing device for pressure sealing a vessel from an externalatmosphere and for passing a continuous length of material into and outof said vessel through said sealing device, comprising:

a hollow casing having an opening at each end, said casing being mountedover an opening into said vessel, plurality of flexible diaphragm meansincluded in said casing and spaced from one another along the length ofsaid sealing device so as to define a plurality of chambers in saidsealing device, said plurality of flexible diaphragm means each having acentral opening therethrough for allowing the passage of continuouslength material through the plurality of diaphragm means and means forintroducing a fluid into at least one of said plurality of chambers forincreasing the pressure within said sealing device to prevent the escapeof pressure from said vessel, and wherein said chambers formed betweenthe plurality of diaphragm means include venting means for exhaustingfluid to the atmosphere, whereby a fluid stream is created in saidsealing device and condensation of steam onto incoming continuous lengthmaterial is prevented.

2. The sealing device of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality ofchambers adjoins the pressure vessel to which said sealing device isattached and including a conduit in communication with said adjacentchamber for admitting a fluid for preventing the rise of moisture fromsaid vessel into the remaining chambers of said sealing device.

3. The sealing device of claim 1 wherein each of said flexible diaphragmmeans comprises separate sheets of flexible material placed in opposedrelationship within said sealing device so as to contact opposite facesof material passing between said separate flexible sheets.

4. A pressure sealing device for use with a high pressure treatingchamber, and through which a continuous length of material can pass forintroduction into said high pressure treating chamber, comprising:

a hollow casing having open ends and having a passage throughout itslength for introducing continuous length material through said casingand into said treating chamber,

flexible diaphragm means interposed throughout the length of said hollowcasing for contacting all surfaces of the continuous length materialbeing moved through said sealing device, said flexible diaphragm meansproviding a seal for preventing the escape of pressure or contents fromsaid treating chamber and said diaphragm means forming a plurality ofchambers through which the continuous length material must pass,

gas inlet means connected to at least one of said plurality of chambers,said gas inlet means providing for an increase of pressure within saidchamber, and

venting means interposed along the length of said hollow casing forreleasing excess pressure and moisture from said housing so as toprevent the condensation of liquid upon incoming continuous lengthmaterial.

5. The sealing device of claim 4 wherein each of said flexible diaphragmmeans comprises a sheet of flexible material having a central openingtherethrough for allowing the passage of continuous length material, andwherein openings of said plurality of spaced diaphragms are in axialalignment with each other throughout the length of the sealing device.

6. The sealing device of claim 4 wherein said flexible diaphragm meanscomprises opposed sheets of flexible material having separate facesapproaching one another so as to contact opposite sides of a continuouslength material passing between the opposed sheets of material 7 wherebythe flexible sheets of material form a pressure seal through whichmaterial can pass with no mechanical disturbance of the surfaces of thematerial.

7. The sealing device of claim 6 wherein said separate sheets offlexible material are arranged so as to converge toward one another atan angle so as to form a diaphragm means having a V-shaped crosssectional configuration directed toward the pressure side of the sealingdevice, whereby increased pressures within said vessel causes saidseparate diaphragm means to bend into a tighter sealing engagement withmaterial passing through the sealing device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Thompson.

Wilson et a1. 68-5 X Brick et al. 34-242X Richeson.

Kolonits 68--5 Yoshiike 685 Yasawa 68-5 Rummel 34242 X IRVING BUNEVICH,Primary Examiner.

1. A SEALING DEVICE FOR PRESSURE SEALING A VESSEL FROM AN EXTERNALATMOSPHERE AND FOR PASSING A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF MATERIAL INTO AND OUTOF SAID VESSEL THROUGH SAID SEALING DEVICE, COMPRISING: A HOLLOW CASINGHAVING AN OPENING AT EACH END, SAID CASING BEING MOUNTED OVER AN OPENINGINTO SAID VESSEL, A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM MEANS INCLUDED INSAID CASING AND SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID SEALINGDEVICE SO AS TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS IN SAID SEALING DEVICE,SAID PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM MEANS EACH HAVING A CENTRAL OPENINGTHERETHROUGH FOR ALLOWING THE PASSAGE OF CONTINUOUS LENGTH MATERIALTHROUGH THE PLURALITY OF DIAPHRAGM MEANS AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING AFLUID INTO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS FOR INCREASING THEPRESSURE WITHIN SAID SEALING DEVICE TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF PRESSUREFROM SAID VESSEL, AND WHEREIN SAID CHAMBERS FORMED BETWEEN THE PLURALITYOF DIAPHRAGM MEANS INCLUDE VENTING MEANS FOR EXHAUSTING FLUID TO THEATMOSPHERE, WHEREBY A FLUID STREAM IS CREATED IN SAID SEALING DEVICE ANDCONDENSATION OF STEAM ONTO INCOMING CONTINUOUS LENGTH MATERIAL ISPREVENTED.